San Diego Little Italy Tours

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Once home to generations of Italian families who who made their living in San Diego’s flourishing fishing industry, Little Italy is now a lively neighborhood packed with restaurants, patio cafés, craft brewpubs, urban wineries, and little plazas with fountains and views of the bay. The trendy, walkable neighborhood—in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter—also has upscale boutiques, art galleries, chic shops, boutique hotels, and live music venues, so there is far more to experience here than just the delicious food.

The Basics

At 48 square blocks, San Diego’s Little Italy is the largest in the United States and is best seen on foot. The eclectic neighborhood’s charming sidewalk cafés and one-of-a-kind specialty stores are reasons enough to head to this district, with locals and visitors alike strolling the streets to get a feel for the mom-and-pop restaurants, art galleries, and retail shops that make the northwest end of downtown San Diego so famous. On Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm, the Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market draws crowds to its stalls offering fresh, California-grown produce, trendy foods, and crafts. Many visitors choose to eat and drink their way through this Old World slice of San Diego—a Little Italy food tour is a great way to explore the area.

Things to Know Before You Go

Travelers into food and fun will enjoy Little Italy’s culinary and entertainment options.The heart of Little Italy is the one-way India Street, with cars able to travel only south-to-north. Most people enter Little Italy from the corner of Ash and India streets.Look for the landmark Little Italy sign arched over India Street at the corner of India and Cedar streets in the heart of Little Italy.Little Italy is a pedestrian-friendly area prime for walking tours.

How to Get There

Little Italy is located on a hill in the northwest end of downtown San Diego, a few blocks away from the Embarcadero. The district’s geographic boundaries are Union Street on the east, Harbor Drive on the west, Ash Street on the south, and Laurel Street on the north. The San Diego Trolley stops two blocks from the heart of Little Italy.

When to Get There

Little Italy is a city neighborhood, with varied opening times for the different businesses contained within it.

Festivals in San Diego’s Little Italy

Little Italy in San Diego is known for several fun festivals, including Little Italy Festa! in the fall and the Mission Federal ArtWalk every spring. Halloween time brings out the trick-or-treaters, and during the holiday season there’s a tree lighting and a Christmas village.

When you're in port in San Diego, see the sights of the city in a convenient way with this 4-hour shore excursion. Traveling by coach, you'll see Balboa Park, Old Town, the Embarcadero, Petco Park, and more. Stop for photo ops at select places, and visit La Jolla, the idyllic coastal suburb north of the city known for its sea caves.

Celebrate the flavor and heritage of San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood on this walking and wine tasting tour. Learn how Italian immigrants who came to California in the 19th-century created a thriving community around fishing that has evolved into one of San Diego's trendiest food districts. Visit three of the area's best wine bars to taste fine Italian and boutique California wines, paired with traditional Italian appetizers like cheese and panini.

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with this one- or two-day pass for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 10 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from on-board guide during your ride.

Discover the sun-drenched attractions of San Diego on this 4-hour city tour covering the city’s top neighborhoods, historic sites and parks. Over the course of your trip, you’ll check out the museums of Balboa Park, admire the historic architecture of the Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town and explore the mansions and beautiful coast in La Jolla, plus much more. It’s a great chance to pack in lots of landmarks in a short period of time. This San Diego sightseeing tour also includes round-trip hotel transport, a guide and optional upgrades to include visits to the USS Midway and Seaport Village.

Combine a San Diego sightseeing tour with a trip down to Tijuana on this 10-hour adventure. With a guide, you'll spend the morning in the city to check out attractions such as Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, and the coastal suburb of La Jolla. Then enjoy a break before heading across the Mexican border to Tijuana, just 20 miles (31 km) away.

Make the most of your limited time in San Diego on a 7-hour small group tour. Provided transportation takes you to each location, which spares you the stress of navigating the city’s traffic on your own. Stop to explore La Jolla, Balboa Park, Old Town, and much more. The tour also includes a free trip to Las Americas Outlet, where you enjoy unbeatable deals at 125 stores.

Explore San Diego on a private Segway tour, providing the ability to cover more ground than a walking tour but still enjoy the fresh Southern California air. With a knowledgeable guide, cruise along the San Diego Embarcadero, and see interesting sights along the waterfront. Check out areas like Little Italy and Balboa Park, and glide through the popular Gaslamp Quarter.

Explore downtown San Diego and Balboa Park on a 2.5-hour Segway tour. Follow your guide to historic sites like the Hall of Justice and Pantoja Park, then make your way through Little Italy and the expansive grounds of Balboa Park. In the park you glide past destinations including Founder’s Plaza, the San Diego Museum of Natural History, and the Inez Parker Memorial Rose Garden. Your guide provides commentary on San Diego's history and landmarks throughout the tour. Includes guide, use of equipment, and Segway orientation—no prior experience necessary.

See the San Diego sights at your own pace in this easy-to-navigate 2-passenger GoCar. Choose from a selection of itineraries and tour lengths, including a 1-, 2-, 3-hour or full-day rental. Then maneuver your three-wheeled GoCar through downtown, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo and more. Don't worry about navigation: The vehicle’s talking GPS always knows where you are, even if you don’t.

See the sights of San Diego in a convenient way on this private 4-hour tour with a guide who shares information about the city. Traveling by private vehicle, you'll see Balboa Park, Old Town, Petco Park, and downtown, including Little Italy, the Embarcadero, and East Village. Stop for photo ops at select places, and visit La Jolla, the idyllic coastal suburb north of the city known for its sea caves. Please specify your preferred departure time when booking.

Make San Diego your personal game board with a 3-hour smartphone scavenger hunt that leads you through the city’s scenic waterfront, historic sites and atmospheric downtown neighborhoods. Form a team of 2–5 people, then trace a 2.5-mile route through the heart of the city, on foot and using public transit. Solve a series of exciting puzzles and challenges, compare your scores to other teams, and enjoy the freedom to explore San Diego at your own pace, with plenty of time to eat, drink and sightsee.